Maternal and Child Health Program Hosts 11th Annual MCH Career Networking Event
March 13, 2025
Last month the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Catalyst Program at the Dornsife School of Public Health (DSPH), in partnership with the Drexel Maternal and Child Health Student Organization (MCHSO), hosted its 11th annual MCH Career Networking Event.
This annual event offers current Dornsife students the chance to network with MCH professionals, including alumni and former MCH trainees, and learn more about different opportunities and diverse careers in the MCH field. The event was hosted virtually to allow for more professionals and online students, especially students in Drexel’s online MCH Certificate Program, to attend.
This year, 16 professionals from 12 organizations, including six Dornsife alumni, four of whom were former MCH trainees, attended the event and shared with students the depth and breadth of MCH career paths.
During the event, students were put into small groups and rotated through their choice of four breakout rooms. Students had the opportunity to meet with professionals throughout the evening and connect in an engaging and personal way.
Both students and professionals found the event worthwhile. Highlights for professionals included meeting students and hearing about their interests in MCH. “I enjoyed answering the students' questions and hearing about their career goals—they are inspiring!” said one professional.
"Talking with representatives from organizations like the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Medical Home Program, and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Policy Lab, really opened my eyes to just how vast and interconnected the maternal and child health community is." - Allora Atiyeh, 1st year MPH student and MCHSO Fundraising Chair
Students enjoyed exploring career paths within MCH, networking with MCH professionals informally, and the opportunity to ask individual questions. "I really appreciate the opportunity to connect with so many professionals doing impactful work in this space," said Allora Atiyeh, a first-year MPH student and MCHSO fundraising chair.
Current students also enjoyed speaking with former MCH trainees and learning how they transitioned from Dornsife into MCH careers or MCH doctoral programs.
“It was such a valuable experience, and I really appreciate the opportunity to connect with so many professionals doing impactful work in this space," said Atiyeh.
"Talking with representatives from organizations like the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Medical Home Program, and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Policy Lab, really opened my eyes to just how vast and interconnected the maternal and child health community is. Seeing how different organizations, from research institutions to policy teams, work together to improve MCH outcomes was inspiring. It definitely gave me a broader perspective and made me excited about the many career paths in this field!” added Atiyeh.
Organizations represented at the event included:
- Bureau of Family Health, Pennsylvania Department of Health
- Division of Maternal, Child and Family Health, Philadelphia Department of Public Health
- PA Medical Home Program, PA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
- Maternity Care Coalition
- Children First
- Delaware County Board of Health
- PolicyLab at the Children;s Hospital of Philadelphia
- St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Adolescent Medicine
- Penn clinical research
- Drexel Human Lactation Consulting Certificate
- Dornsife MCH Academia/Research (two former MCH trainees; one who completed her doctoral degree at DSPH and is now faculty and one who completed her MPH at DSPH and is now in an MCH doctoral program).
“I sincerely appreciated the opportunity to connect one-on-one with potential employers about career opportunities in maternal and child health," said one student. "As I approach graduation, navigating the current uncertainties in healthcare can feel overwhelming. However, this event provided clarity and reassurance, making the job search process feel more manageable.”
Learn more about Dornsife's MCH program and upcoming MCH events.
Dornsife's Maternal and Child Health Program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.